St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-01-06
NOTES ON ST. JOHNSBURY.
Buildino. December 1s. 1856.

Aside from it's natural scenery, the
most interesting features of st. Johns
bury are the Fairbanks Scale Works
the schools, public buildings, fine res
licences and grounds.
The Fairbanks Scale company is one
of the oldest and widest known scale
manufacturers in the country. 1t Otter
ships twelve car loads of scales in &
single week, filling orders from al
parts of the world. Many of the Coz
employees live in the cOmpany's houses
near the works.
The Fairbanks industry may be sait
to have built the village. The acade
my, accommodating 300 students, anG
connected boarding house, the Athe.
n8um, Y. M. G. A. block, and new
North church are the most important
structures save the latter, these have
been built and donated by different
members of the Fairbanks family
These buildings are all we'll adapted tC
their intended use, are substantial and
of good design. The church is of stone,
the others brick.
The Athen8um consists of reading
room, library and art gallery,-with a
large hall above. The art gallery
contains the finest collection of paint
ings in Vermont. One occupies the
whole of large alcOve opposite the
entrance. 1t is by A. Biersdtadt, New
York, "The DOmes of the Yosemite
At the time of it's purchase it was the
painters most celebrated work, costing
it's donor $33, 900.
The best building in the town, and
without doubt the finest religious edi-
flee in the state, is the new North
church. Few know it's cost, for great
part was given by two or three indi-
viduals. 1t is supposed by many to
be above 100000. 1t is built of a
Vermont stone found at Isle La Motto.
The stone is very dark cOlOred, and all
but the trimmings is rock-faced. These
being dressed are light cOlOred. A few
exterior columns are of a beautiful red
granite from the Bay of Fundy. Their
bases and elegantly carved capitals are
of Ohio sandstone.
The main entrance is through the
triple arched porch. There is also a
side entrance from the porte cOchere
on the right and another, through the
porch on the left, gives access from the
street to the Sunday school rooms and
to the rear of the audience room.
In the audience room the choir and
organ are back of the pulpit, while
over the front vestibule is a gallery.
A low, wide arch divides this from the
large room. The wall above the arch
is pleasingly pierced by an arcade of
small openings, with double range of
small columns having terra Gotta CAPT.
tails.
These, and the village school houses,
ntn d
ings. They were all designed by Mr..
Lambert Packard of ST. Johnsbury,
and erected under his superintendent.
The finest residence is that of Col.
w. p. Fairbanks, known as "Brant-
view" 1t is of brick and terra Gotta,
with finely finished and furnished in
terror.
Some of the grounds comprise many
acres of lawns and groves. The pub
lie may wander or drive through lawns
bordered with shrubbery, among beau
tiful plants and rustic fountains.
There is no exclusiveness. Not only
have these public benefactors provided
the best educational advantages, Ii
brary, art gallery, two reading rooms,
a gymnasium, and bathroom, all free
to rich or poor, but they also keep
open to all the grounds about their
houses.
The sanitary features of the village
are in accord with the improvements
and advantages named, and, so far as
the writer could judge, are ahead of
other Vermont towns. The records
show a mortality of about 10 per 1000.
1t is noticeable that since the sewers
have been SO generally extended ty
phoid fevea has greatly decreased.
The village water-wOrks take their
supply from the Passumpsic river,
above the point where the sewers dis
charge. The Fairbanks also have wa